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My sadness at the loss of the Teen Titans animated series is well documented. My family turned to the Teen Titans Go! comics and that helped, for a while, and then there was the whole hubbub over whether or not that would continue, as well.

I simply cannot keep up with all of these changes, but I try, because I really have a thing for the Titans. Which sounds a lot creepier than I mean it to, when I say it like that. Anyway. I probably got a little more excited than was strictly necessary when I read Newsarama’s preview of the new Teen Titans: Year One comic:

TEEN TITANS: YEAR ONE #1
Written by Amy Wolfram
Art by Karl Kerschl & Serge Lapointe
Cover by Kerschl
Writer Amy Wolfram (Teen Titans animated series) joins rising star artist Karl Kerschl (ALL-FLASH #1, ROBIN) for a colorful reimagining of how the Teen Titans came together! See how these teammates bonded, and overcame the sheer awkwardness of being teenagers in this explosive 6-issue miniseries that guest-stars the Justice League of America! You may think you know Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash and Aqualad – but you don’t really know the original Teen Titans!
On sale January 2 1 of 6 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Hey, yet another way for us to get our Teen Titans fix around here. Sounds good to me! Teen Titans: Year One is slated to be a six-issue limited series, and I suppose by its very prequel nature it’ll be self-limiting, but who knows. We’ve got Teen Titans Go!, Tiny Titans, now Year One… maybe this could spark the return of some animated Titans. It could happen.

I can dream, you know. (It’s a new year. Don’t burst my bubble just yet.)

Now I’m reading conflicting information and I’m really confused. The fact that I’m confused is nothing new or particularly surprising, but the trying to figure out what’s really happening here is a convoluted process.

Here’s what I know for sure: Tiny Titans was announced last week as an upcoming comic aimed at the 3+ set. Look at that picture, there. Aren’t they adorable? I mean, creepy and strange, but cute? It sort of reminds me of Muppet Babies. Hopefully Tiny Titans will be better than muppets in diapers. Let’s hope.

You can learn more about Tiny Titans over at Wizard Entertainment; I have to admit, as weird as the concept seemed to me at first blush, it doesn’t sound half bad.

NRAMA: Before we get too far into things, how will these titles fit within the Johnny DC imprint as it stands? Will they be additions, replacements, or something else?

JJ: We’re going to be losing Teen Titans Go! and Justice League Unlimited in the line that I know of. These titles won’t exactly be replacements for those two, though, they’re something completely different.

Just got back from the Chicago con where much confusion over TTG’s cancellation ensued following the announcement of “Tiny Titans.” I’m still trying to get to the bottom of things, but it looks like after the above interview was posted on Friday afternoon, fans begin mobbing Jann Jones and Dan DiDido at the convention complaining about the pending end of TTG. Next thing you know, Jann is recanting what she said in the interview and Dan’s telling fans that TTG will go on. And late last night, after the DC dinner, Jann did say to me that they weren’t cancelling TTG anymore but didn’t give me any details.

So it might be good news for the Titans all around, or maybe in a few days someone at DC will recant the recanting. It’s been known to happen.

Either way, are you going to pass up an opportunity to see what a toddler Raven is like or how much pizza toddler Beast Boy can eat? Of course you’re not.

It’s been a while since there was any good Teen Titans news to share, and today I’ve got three items of interest to keep you happy over the weekend. Because I know your weekend would’ve been empty and meaningless, otherwise. You’re welcome.

First: Are you a fan of the Teen Titans Go! comics? J. Torres has posted a preview of some pages from TTG #43 over on ComicSpace. (The issue is available for purchase now, but why not whet your appetite?)

Second: Newsarama has an interview with Marv Wolfman up where he discusses (among other things) the upcoming animated Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Just be aware that this is based on the The New Teen Titans comics (read: it’s for adults), though it’s interesting to hear Wolfman praise the Cartoon Network series:

NRAMA: Is it connected to the Cartoon Network version of Teen Titans?

MW: No, this has nothing to do with that. This is an adult version. It’s a very strong PG-13 based on the comic, not the cartoon show.

NRAMA: Do you suspect it will be less anime influenced?

MW: I don’t believe art designs have been done but what I’ve always been told was that this was going to be done straight. But I loved the Cartoon Network version of “The Judas Contract”. I thought for a show aimed at eight year olds, they did a story that an adult could watch and not at all be insulted by. We are aiming for a PG-13 audience so hopefully we’re going to be able to do all the emotion that they did and more, but also make it closer to the original comic.

I mean, what exactly are we going to use as the criteria for judging, here? Who’s drawn the best? Which mother makes the best cartoon cookies? Which kid got carted off to cartoon jail? It just felt like there was ample opportunity for these to turn into really pointless assessments.

Oh, me of little faith! ToonZone came through with the funny. Both articles had me giggling.

The leader for best mom? Betty Rubble. Hey, wasn’t I just telling you about a Wilma Flintstone marathon, and how she was apparently an ideal mom? Well, you have to admit the argument for Betty is pretty persuasive:

Why: Hanna-Barbera is one of the most friendly studios for parents, since their works provide a number of potential candidates, including Wilma Flintstone and Jane Jetson. Betty Rubble ends up getting the title from the other H-B animated moms largely because she has to raise Bamm-Bamm. Being a mother is hard enough without having to deal with an inordinately strong kid who likes breaking things for fun. Pebbles Flintstone is a perfectly darling little angel, unlikely to give Wilma and Fred any trouble for anything until she starts dating, and anybody can be a perfect mother with the help of a robot maid. The fact that the Rubble household hasn’t been reduced to, well, rubble by Bamm-Bamm must be due to Betty’s influence.

If it will console the Wilma partisans, I always felt she won the “Hot Mom” contest between the two, but that’s not the only thing we’re looking at here.

The piece on lacking offspring is even better. Idolize the Teen Titans? Maybe you should take a good hard look at what a rotten daughter Raven is:

Why: What an ingrate this little goth chick is. Her father Trigon takes years to set up his grandest plans and dreams for his life (and everyone else’s), and entrusts his daughter with one of the most crucial parts of that plan. He does everything he can to convince her that she must fulfill her part of the grand design, despite her bad attitude about it and her need to pout all the time. He doesn’t raise his voice, he doesn’t send her to her room, he just consistently and constantly reminds her that she needs to do her job. And then she does it, and everything goes right for him, and he even keeps her around after everybody else is frozen as his special little girl. How fatherly. And what does she do? She kills him and says he was never her father. Oh, and how’d she come to that sterling conclusion? She joined a gang!

Advice to Would-Be Ravens: If your parents are trying to do something important, don’t get in their way. Or suck them of all their magic energy or anything like that.

Go give both pieces a read. Honestly, I feel less bothered by the clothes my kids leave on the floor right next to the hamper, now.

Listen, I’m a grown woman. I’m a mother. My days are much more about packing lunches and delivering treatises on why it’s really equally easy to put your underwear in the hamper as to throw it on the floor, plus hitting the hamper has the added bonus of keeping my head from exploding. My point is, I do not have a huge amount of my time and attention invested in cartoons, really.

Except for Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. Because, well, that’s brilliant. And Teen Titans, because that was also brilliant, before it was rudely cancelled. But at least after Teen Titans the television series was axed, I discovered Teen Titans Go!, the comic book series. That helped, a little.

We learned from a source close to DC Comics that “Teen Titans Go!” may actually go under, and J. Torres has confirmed it. This comes as a huge surprise since the series is actually the DC Comics’ best selling all-ages series. It has done a great job of carrying on the cancelled show’s adventures, as well as introducing many new fans and kids alike to comics and the Titans. According to our source, the cut-off issue for “Teen Titans Go!” hasn’t been confirmed yet, but we’re at least guaranteed up to the last solicitation (TTG #44 out in June, featuring Red Raven). Sadly, the end may come sooner after that than you’d think.

[Edited to add: Butho from TitansGo.net is now suggesting addressing mail to "Johnny DC" as well, to basically hit all related DC Comics departments. Thanks for the tip, Butho!]

Go tell DC Comics to knock it off. The world needs its Titans. Heck, even I need them, as a break from my mundane life as a mom. And haven’t I suffered enough loss already? I mean, for someone who really doesn’t care about cartoons? Ahem.